Steam Free-to-Keep Leaks: 4 Games Set for July–August 2026 Freebies
Thanks to backend signals and data-mining, Steam users have already been tipped off to three games (plus one extra freebie) that are set to appear in Steam’s Free-to-Keep Promotion during July and August 2026. The catch: Steam doesn’t clearly announce the exact start times for FTK drops. Under the Free-to-Keep Promotion, paid titles are temporarily converted into free games, but you still have to claim them before a countdown ends. Since Steam typically keeps the spotlight minimal during the FTK window, these giveaways are easy to miss if you aren’t checking regularly.
July/August 2026 FTK window: what’s already known
| Month | Free-to-Keep item | Type | Key timing detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante | Full game | Listed for July FTK (exact claim start not specified) |
| July 2026 | Yet Another Zombie Defense HD | Full game | Listed for July FTK (exact claim start not specified) |
| July 2026 | The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu – Lost Explorers’ Swords Pack | Free content pack tied to a new release | Base game releases July 15; the pack is expected to go live with FTK |
| August 2026 | Moonlighter | Full game | Listed for August FTK (exact claim start not specified) |
It also helps that several of these titles are already seeing discounted prices during the Steam Summer Sale. That gives players two practical options right now: grab them while the sale is active (the Summer Sale ends July 9) and lock in a lower price with a longer ownership window, or hold off and wait for the Free-to-Keep Promotion so you can add them to your library at no cost. Either approach means there’s a decent set of picks to choose from before the giveaways begin.
And if you’re tracking freebies beyond Steam, the broader reminder still stands: don’t overlook the monthly free game pipeline across platforms like Amazon Prime Gaming, the Epic Games Store, Game Pass, and PS Plus—those lineups often overlap in timing with Steam’s own FTK rhythm.
Looking at Steam’s current FTK entries, the July 2026 lineup shows The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante and Yet Another Zombie Defense HD as two full games. The third entry comes with a small footnote: instead of a standalone game, it’s currently listed as a free add-on, The Lost Explorers’ Swords Pack. That pack is tied to a title that hasn’t launched yet, The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu. Since that base game is scheduled to release on July 15, it’s a strong bet that the accompanying promotional content will appear in Steam’s FTK window on (or around) that same date. For August, the Steam Free-to-Keep list adds Moonlighter.
Steam’s Free-to-Keep games for July 2026
- The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante
- Yet Another Zombie Defense HD
- The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu – Lost Explorers’ Swords Pack*
The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante is a story-driven, choice-based RPG where you guide a character across an entire lifespan. The journey begins in childhood and continues into adulthood, all while the setting is shaped by a strict, class-structured empire. Because the game emphasizes consequences, your decisions don’t just change dialogue—they shape relationships, social position, career opportunities, and the overall direction of the character’s life.
Find the odd one out before the timer runs out.
Which entry doesn’t belong?
Yet Another Zombie Defense HD takes a more direct approach: it’s a top-down zombie survival shooter focused on staying alive as long as possible against constant waves of undead. Between rounds, you earn money to purchase better weapons, erect defensive barriers, and reinforce your position. The result is an arcade-style loop with a strong co-op angle on Steam, where the gameplay stays simple enough to jump into and coordinate quickly.
For July’s “not exactly the base game” giveaway, the Free-to-Keep item isn’t the horror game itself—it’s the Lost Explorers’ Swords Pack for The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu. The upcoming Steam release launches on July 15, and it’s described as a first-person co-op horror adventure inspired by H.P. Lovecraft. Players head into a cursed jungle searching for treasure while facing psychological horrors, with teamwork positioned as the key tool for survival.
Steam’s Free-to-Keep games for August 2026
- Moonlighter
The first confirmed Steam Free-to-Keep title for August 2026 is Moonlighter. This game combines roguelike dungeon crawling with shop management, letting players shift between perilous nighttime runs and daytime business operations. You play as Will, exploring monster-filled dungeons to grab valuable loot, then selling those finds to build out and upgrade equipment. The loop continues as you expand your village and push deeper for better rewards—an experience that’s frequently compared to a classic Legend of Zelda style of adventure structure, but with roguelike-style progression keeping each run feeling fresh.
